Police in Derbyshire issue warning over legal highs

Police are warning of the dangers of legal highs after a motorist was found driving in Derbyshire under the influence of a psychoactive substance.

Last month a woman was convicted of dangerous driving at High Peak Magistrates’ Court after she admitting taking a legal high before getting behind the wheel.

She received a 12 month driving ban, 12 month community order, 54 hours unpaid work and a fine.

The court heard she collided with two vehicles which were parked on Hayfield Road, in Birch Vale.

A Derbyshire Police spokeswoman said: “Psychoactive substances, which may be more commonly known as ‘legal highs’, have been sold for more than 20 years and new ones are being developed all the time.

“Police are advising users over concerns that many substances being taken are new, and have not been tested to see what effects they would have either mentally or physically. Many of the products are marked as ‘not for human consumption’, or ‘research chemicals’.

“In some cases the substances being sold on the Internet as ‘legal highs’ have been found to contain illegal drugs. Users should be aware that they are risking criminal convictions if they are found with an illegal drug, whether they think it is legal or not.